SARASOTA, Fla. 每 The Orioles have developed their franchise cornerstone catcher in Adley Rutschman. They＊ve developed a top-two shortstop in baseball in Gunnar Henderson and a former No. 1 overall prospect at second base in Jackson Holliday. They＊re developing big boppers Samuel Basallo (BAL No. 1/MLB No. 13) and Coby Mayo (BAL No. 2/MLB No. 14) into ready or near-ready Major League contributors.
But Enrique Bradfield Jr. (BAL No. 3) is a development case all his own. In fact, he might have the loudest tool of the bunch.
At the conclusion of his second professional Spring Training, Bradfield continues to exhibit his 80-grade speed and is closing in on giving the Baltimore lineup a whole new flavor.
More from MLB Pipeline:
? Spring Breakout | Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
※He＊s a super dynamic player,§ said Orioles director of player development Anthony Villa. ※The ability to steal bases jumps off the page, but the speed in center field, the amount of ground that he covers 每 you almost don＊t even recognize all the balls he＊s getting to because he gets there in stride. He makes it all look so easy.§
That ※jump off the page§ stat would be the 2023 first-rounder＊s 74 steals last season between High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie (now renamed Chesapeake). That ranked second among all Minor Leaguers, trailing only Chandler Simpson＊s 104. It＊s the eighth-highest single-season total in the Minors over the last 10 seasons. In that same timeframe (since 2014), only 10 Orioles Minor Leaguers have stolen 74 bags ＃ total, including current Baltimore center fielder Cedric Mullins (110). Bradfield is the only member of that top 10 to play fewer than 287 games; he＊s played only 133.
O＊s fans got a closer look at Bradfield＊s wheels during the club＊s 5-4 win over the Yankees in the Spring Breakout game on March 15.
Bradfield singled to left-center in the first inning, advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw from Yankees starter Carlos Lagrange and scored immediately after on a wild pitch, just beating out the tag from catcher Rafael Flores on a fortuitous bounce from the backstop. Bradfield added another single on a comebacker to the mound and tacked on a true steal and another run scored in the third, finishing 2-for-3 from the top of the lineup. (He later dedicated the performance to former travel-ball teammate Isaiah Hood, who died earlier in the week.)
In a world in which hitters are so often chasing exit velocities, Bradfield can be a different player at the plate, too. The Vanderbilt product hit only four homers in 108 games and slugged .371. For a batter who doesn＊t need to power his way to first, there will be times when a bunt is a perfect call.
※We＊re always trying to exploit inefficiencies in the game,§ Villa said. ※The guys with more speed, this inefficiency is louder, and louder is our encouragement for them to bunt and bunt for hits. Even guys that may not be burners, there will be opportunities to take advantage of it. It＊s something we＊re looking to do this season.§
That＊s an interesting note considering who the O＊s selected last July. UNC first-rounder Vance Honeycutt (BAL No. 5) earns 65 grades for his speed and is also considered a plus-plus defender in center. He has significantly more pop than Bradfield but has undergone swing tweaks to get his bat in the zone longer and improve the contact rate that worried scouts in college and the pros. Austin Overn (BAL No. 29), a '24 third-rounder out of USC, is even faster with 75-grade speed.
With Basallo and Mayo potential graduate candidates in 2025, the next faces of the O＊s system will be speedy ones, and after the way he jumped out of the starting blocks in ＊24, Bradfield in particular will be most ready to take advantage of his eternal green light. At the upper levels, keep your eyes on the bags.
※The pitcher is going to use his two pickoff moves and maybe even run the risk of a third one,§ Villa said. ※They're going to be altering their times to the plate, and maybe that influences the pitch quality. When he's on base, everyone feels it, and it's super exciting.§
Something to prove: Coby Mayo
Mayo made waves last week when he addressed his disappointment at being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
※It definitely is difficult,§ he said. ※It obviously sucks, because you feel like you＊ve proved everything you needed to. And sometimes, it doesn＊t feel like it＊s quite enough.
※You go back there and if you have success, it＊s, ＆Oh, well he＊s supposed to have success, because he＊s already proved it.＊ And if he doesn＊t have success, it＊s, ＆Oh, well obviously he＊s fallen off.＊ It＊s kind of a lose-lose going to Norfolk.§
Mayo later walked those comments back some on X, noting they came from frustration after hitting .190/.239/.262 with 13 strikeouts over 17 games this spring. But they were also understandable under the circumstances. Mayo has played 151 career games at Triple-A and owns a .279/.376/.543 line with 34 homers in that span. He lacks much to prove at the Minors＊ top level and needs MLB playing time to grow accustomed to The Show. With Jordan Westburg and Ryan Mountcastle holding down the corner infield spots in Baltimore, that playing time just isn't there in a loaded O＊s lineup.
Injuries and other factors will undoubtedly test the strength of that depth, meaning Mayo＊s best course now is to stay ready and prove why he belonged there all along when the call comes.
※There＊s the understanding that Major League pitching is very tough,§ Villa said on March 12, before Mayo＊s option. ※The ability to carry out at-bats, how important pitch selection is, being able to stick to your approach 每 there＊s always this continued refinement. How do I play to my strengths while also patching some weaknesses? We know that Coby＊s strengths are pretty good and that he＊s going to be in a good spot.§
Breakout potential: Esteban Mejia
While so much of the focus in the Baltimore system in recent years has been on hitting, there are pitchers breaking through as well.
The right-handed Mejia signed with the Orioles for $175,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January '24 and enjoyed a solid start to his career with a 3.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 44 strikeouts and 15 walks in 27 2/3 innings in the Dominican Summer League. His 36.4 percent K rate was seventh-best among 386 DSL hurlers with at least 25 frames.
After heading stateside this spring, the 6-foot-3 right-hander is already garnering plenty of attention among Baltimore brass.
※He＊s been throwing 97-98 with a 90 mph slider,§ Villa said. ※You＊re looking at this kid. He just turned 18 [on March 7], and he＊s throwing fuego in zone with an offspeed pitch. You＊re just thinking there＊s a bright future ahead for him.§
Is that 90 mph truly a slider at that velocity or more a cutter? It doesn＊t matter to Villa.
※A 90 mph pitch moving sideways, ask the hitter, it＊s not the most comfortable,§ he said. ※It doesn＊t matter what you call it.§
2024 Draft sleeper: Nate George
To tie this all together, the Orioles haven＊t just found speed at the top of their recent Draft classes.
George was an interesting pick in the 16th round last July out of Minooka Community High School in Illinois. The 6-foot outfielder was arguably one of the fastest players in the Draft but didn＊t participate in many showcase events, leading evaluators to question how his quick right-handed swing would hold against more advanced pitching. Baltimore selected him in the 16th round and signed him for $455,000, the seventh-highest bonus in its '24 class, to draw him away from a commitment to Northwest Florida State JC.
Without the college pedigree of Bradfield, Honeycutt and Overn, George will have a longer runway to put those wheels to use. He＊ll also have a template to follow.
※We are very excited about Nate George,§ Villa said. ※He＊s had a great camp so far. How cool for him to be sharing center field with a really good center field class that we have in the org right now 每 just really good athletes that played in college. Nate will get to learn from their experience, and we think that is beneficial for his development. He＊s so young and has a long way to go, so we can slow-cook that development. But he＊s flashed some really exciting skills.§